video-es | The Last Bushman of Zimbabwe

• When a people lose their history, tradition, culture and mostly their language as is the case with the San in Zimbabwe, they are bound to lose direction and confidence in themselves. The current scenario prevailing in Tsholotsho and Plumtree where the San are mostly found, is that there are many elderly San people from whom one can expects to research the history, culture and language of these unique people, but sadly few of them can help in this regard. The San or Tjwa people have lived or existed the same way for decades, subsisting a harsh and hostile environment and surviving only because they were used to their environment and that they have adapted accordingly. The way of life of the Tjwa is seriously threatened by encroaching western cultural influences and the effects of continuous drought on available resources. Due to social pressures and resettlement, the San cultural way of life and language stopped being passed from one generation to the next.

• Category: cultural rights
• Thematic area: Language endangerment
• Call topics: Intergenerational transmission
• Major objective: Focus attention on the critical risks confronting indigenous languages
• Area of intervention: Increasing understanding, reconciliation and international cooperation